Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital) In-depth review

Viewfinder

The 550D inherits the 500D's viewfinder. It's one of the better pentamirror finders out there, but obviously is not as big or bright as the pentaprism finders generally found in more expensive cameras. The small wheel to the right is a dioptre adjustment.

Viewfinder view

The viewfinder view is identical to the 500D's; the focusing screen has a circle indicating the spot metering location, and the AF areas are indicated by a small LED dot in the center of
the AF point rectangle. With
a depression of the shutter release button (half or full) this dot will
briefly light to indicated the selected AF point (either automatic or
manual) and then blink again once AF has been achieved.

Viewfinder size

Typically, entry-level DSLRs are equipped with fairly small, cramped viewfinders compared to their more advanced cousins. This is partly a result of their use of pentamirrors rather than pentaprisms, which tend to produce a dimmer, and - because of size constraints - a smaller viewfinder image. The EOS 550D offers essentially the same viewfinder experience as most cameras of this class.

Because of the way viewfinders are measured (using a fixed lens, rather than a lens of equivalent magnification), you also need to take the sensor size into account, so the numbers in the diagram below are the manufacturer's specified magnifications divided by the respective 'crop factors'. As you can see, the result is that the EOS 550D has a viewfinder that's almost identical to the Nikon D5000, and one that's a touch bigger than the equivalent Olympus Four Thirds SLR.

The diagram below shows the relative size of the viewfinders of the Canon EOS 550D, the Nikon D5000, Olympus E-620 and - for reference - the EOS-1Ds Mark III (currently the biggest viewfinder on the DSLR market, fractionally larger than the Sony Alpha 900).

The EOS 550D's viewfinder is slightly larger than the Nikon D5000's (though the difference is virtually impossible to see). Both are slightly larger than the E-620's viewfinder, thanks in part to the wider aspect ratio they use.

Viewfinder crop

The viewfinder of the Canon EOS 550D shows approximately 95% of the scene to be captured. The 5% 'margin of error' is of little consequence in normal use, but can make framing critical subjects difficult.

canoneos550d: 95% viewfinder.

Battery Compartment / Battery

The EOS 550D's battery compartment is located in the base of the hand grip behind a metal hinged plastic door. The battery fits horizontally into the base and is held in place by an white clip. The 550D uses a new battery (the LP-E8), which provides 4-level battery life information and is good for around 440 shots using the CIPA testing standard. This is a little lower than the EOS 500D, presumably the new sensor and screen draw a touch more power. The battery is charged using the supplied 'brick' charger.

Battery Grip (optional)

The 550D's new battery design means a new optional battery grip too, which won't please upgraders. the BG-E8 can take two of the new batteries or six AA batteries (using different cartridges). As with previous grips the BG-E8 is inserted into the battery compartment and screws tight using the tripod mount. Older grips are not compatible with the EOS 550D. Also like previous models the addition of the BG-E8 transforms the handling of the EOS 550D, particularly when working with larger lenses, where the entire package becomes more comfortable to hold.

Secure Digital Compartment

The EOS 550D sports an SD memory card slot and in addition to the now ubiquitous SD and SDHC cards, it's one of a new generation of cameras to support the new SDXC standard that promises increased speed and capacities up to 2TB. As on the EOS 450D and 500D there is a 'beware I'm still writing to the card' warning screen and beep if you open the card door too soon.

Connections

On the left side of the camera are all of the cameras connections, these
are protected by a rubber cover which fits flush when closed. In summary from top to bottom: 3.5mm stereo mike socket, Remote terminal (E3 type), a combined A/V output and an HDMI socket.

Seriously Pentax has around 2% of market share :O The K-X and K-7 are really good cameras for there categories and price etc... Given that they have only 2% market share should I be scared to buy a camera from them? Could they just say one day right we will no longer make cameras and that's it? To add to that question what other lens do mount on Pentax?

Latest in-depth reviews

The Leica Q2 is an impressively capable fixed-lens, full-frame camera with a 47MP sensor and a sharp, stabilized 28mm F1.7 Summilux lens. It's styled like a traditional Leica M rangefinder and brings a host of updates to the hugely popular original Leica Q (Typ 116) that was launched in 2015.

The Edelkrone DollyONE is an app-controlled, motorized flat surface camera dolly. The FlexTILT Head 2 is a lightweight head that extends, tilts and pans. They aren't cheap, but when combined these two products provide easy camera mounting, re-positioning and movement either for video work or time lapse photography.

Are you searching for the best image quality in the smallest package? Well, the GR III has a modern 24MP APS-C sensor paired with an incredibly sharp lens and fits into a shirt pocket. But it's not without its caveats, so read our full review to get the low-down on Ricoh's powerful new compact.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1X is the ultimate sports, action and wildlife camera for professional Micro Four Thirds users. However, it can't quite match the level of AF reliability offered by its full frame competitors.

Latest buying guides

What's the best camera for under $500? These entry level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.

What’s the best camera costing over $2000? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2000 and recommended the best.

What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.

What’s the best camera for less than $1000? The best cameras for under $1000 should have good ergonomics and controls, great image quality and be capture high-quality video. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing under $1000 and recommended the best.

If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that while they're a bit older, still offer a lot of bang for the buck.

We've updated our waterproof camera buying guide with the latest round of rugged compacts, and we've crowned a new winner as the best pick in the category: the Olympus TG-6. That is, unless you happen to find a good deal on the TG-5.

Researchers with the Samsung AI Center in Moscow and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology have created a system that transforms still images into talking portraits with as little as a single image.

K&R Photographics, a camera store in Crescent Springs, Kentucky, was robbed by armed men, who not only took thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment, but also injured the 70-year-old co-owner of the store.

The new Fujifilm GFX 100 boasts some impressive specifications, including 100MP, in-body stabilization and 4K video. But what's it like to shoot with? Senior Editor Barnaby Britton found out on a recent trip to Florence, Italy.

It's here! The long-awaited next-generation Fujifilm GFX has been officially launched. Click through to learn more about the camera that Fujifilm is hoping will shake up the pro photography market - the GFX100.

We've known about the Fujifilm GFX 100 since last fall, but now it's official: this 102MP medium-format monster will be available at the end of June for $10,000. In addition to its incredible resolution, the camera also has in-body IS, a hybrid AF system, 4K video and a removable EVF.

According to DJI, any drone model weighing over 250 grams will have AirSense Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receivers installed to help drone operators know when planes and helicopters are nearby.

Chris and Jordan are kicking off a new segment in which they make feature suggestions to manufacturers for the benefit of all photographer-kind. To start things off, they take a look at the humble USB-C port and everything it could be doing for us.

The Olympus TG-5 is one of our favorite waterproof cameras, and the company today introduced the TG-6, a relatively low-key update. New features include the addition of an anti-reflective coating on the sensor, a higher-res LCD, and more underwater and macro modes.

The Leica Q2 is an impressively capable fixed-lens, full-frame camera with a 47MP sensor and a sharp, stabilized 28mm F1.7 Summilux lens. It's styled like a traditional Leica M rangefinder and brings a host of updates to the hugely popular original Leica Q (Typ 116) that was launched in 2015.

We've been playing around with a prototype of the new Peak Design Travel Tripod and are impressed so far: it's incredibly compact, fast to deploy and stable enough for the heaviest bodies. However, the price may turn some away.